Self-elevator travelling carriage for skidding and moving a supporting framework

ABSTRACT

The carriage comprises a frame for guiding a structure supporting, on one hand, the rod of a jack connected to the frame, and on the other hand, a vertical bearing for a pivot supporting a main wheel and a removable counterbalancing roller, each of them being off-set on each side of the frame; said frame being further provided with parts for fixing the same on a structure.

United States Patent 1191 Bournazel 1 Apr. 23, 1974 2,548,806 4/1951 Montourl 254/2 R 3,370,725 2/1968 Jones 254/2 R 3,486,650 12/1969 Boone 254/2 R 3,631,999 1/1972 Walerowski 254/2 R Primary ExaminerOthell M. Simpson Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Dwight H. Smiley, Imirie and Smiley [57] ABSTRACT The carriage comprises a frame for guiding a structure supporting, on one hand, the rod of a jack connected to the frame, and on the other hand, a vertical bearing for a pivot supporting a main wheel and a removable counterbalancing roller, each of them being off-set on each side of the frame; said frame being further provided with parts for fixing the same on a structure.

7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 2 1 3 806; 089

mu 1- m a WWW PATENTED R 23 I974 mu 2 u a mnmin APR 2 19M mm 3 [1F 4 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the construction of platforms and other similar building structures having overhangs, supporting frameworks .are employed, said supporting frameworks bearing at their front side foot-plates supporting the linings. Said supporting frameworks are erected or placed on the spot by means of constituting elements of various designs to form single or combined assemblies resting on the ground.

In general the frameworks are erected only for temporary use during construction, thus it becomes further necessary to proceed with their skidding or their moving in order to place them upright to the next construction to be built. The means proposed up to now to perform such operations are heavy, bulky and above all require a station for the production and the distribution of hydraulic fluid. When the workers do not have such a station at their disposal, the skidding and/or the moving of a complete framework cannot be made. It is then necessary to proceed to a complete removal of the different constitutive elements and reassemble them afterwards at the new location selected. Said operation is excessively long, arduous and is thus expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the foregoing problem by providing jack means on travelling carriage which can be adapted to the base of a supporting framework to ensure, in combination with other similar carriages, the lifting of the load and moving it to a new location after the comstruction element has been built.

According to the invention, the travelling carriage for skidding and moving a support framework comprises a vertical frame provided with two parts for joining and fixing on the pillar ofa framework and providing the guiding of a sliding mobile structure extended,

opposite the two joining parts, by means of two wings supporting, on one hand, the hinge spindle of the piston-rod of a double-acting jack, with an independent operation, connected to the frame and, on the other hand, a vertical bearing for an angularly directable pivot supporting a sub shaft for a main wheel laterally shifted and also a removable stand for a counterbalancing roller laterally shifted opposite to the main wheel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the carriage according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1 and showing in an enlarged manner some details of embodiment of the carriage.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line IIIIII of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-- IV of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a partial plane view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrammatic side views showing two steps of embodiment of the carriage.

FIG. 9 is a plane view showing different possibilities for using the carriage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to FIGS. 1 to 5 the travelling carriage comprises a frame 1, made in the shape of a vertical shaft constituted by two U-shaped ironsections 2 and 3, FIG. 2, spaced from each other by cross-bars 4. Preferably the U-shaped iron sections 2 and 3 are placed in order to form with their opposite wings, a vertical tubular column delimiting in two of its sides, two slots 5 between the longitudinal edges or sides of the wings of the two iron sections. The frame 1 supports a sliding mobile structure 6 constituted by a casing 7 having two lateral walls each supporting two spindles 8 freely journalled two flanged rollers 9 travelling in the slots 5. The rollers 9 are placed at the upper and lower portions of the structure 6 of which the height is lower than that of frame 1.

The structure 6 can thus slide freely between two extremepositions, high and low respectively, determined by transverse plates 10 and 11 fixed with the corresponding ends of the iron sections 2 and 3.

The two sides of casing 7 that support the rollers 9 are extended one side of the casing to define Wings 12 supporting a spindle 13 on which is hinged the pistonrod 14 of a double-acting hydraulic jack 15 of which the body is fixed on two brackets 16 extending above the frame 1 beyond the plate 10. The brackets 16 also support an independent hydraulic unit 17 comprising a hand-pump tank 18 and a distributor 19 having two feeding positions and a neutral position. The total stroke of the piston-rod l4'of the jack 15 is at least equal to the maximum sliding amplitude of the structure 6 on frame 1.

The side wings 12 support a bearing 20 substantially around the lower end portion of the structure 6 for the cylindrical swivel pin 21 of a pivot 22. The swivel-pin 21 is axially set into the bearing 20 between a stopwasher 23 and a base 24. As shown in FIG. 5, said base 24 has tubular tip or bushing 25 which can be registered with any of several holes 26 in a semi-circular crown 27 at the lower portion of bearing 20. A removable pin 28 can be simultaneously set into any of the holes 26 and bushing 25 to provide the angular interlocking of the swivel-pin 21 in relation with the bearing 20. The pivot '22 comprises at the lower portion thereof, a sleeve 29 having a polygonal section, for example a square section, the longitudinal axis thereof being perpendicular to the axis of theswivel-pin 21. The sleeve 29 supports the extremity 30 of a stub shaft 31 forming a spingle (not shown) for a main wheel 32, which is consequently laterally off-set with respect to the vertical axis of the frame 1. A removable pin 33 provides an axially interlocking of the extremity 30 with the sleeve 29. Said sleeve supports, in a plane lower than the swivel-pin 21, an additional sleeve 34, the longitudinal axis thereof being parallel with that of the main sleeve 29. The additional sleeve 34 receives the extremity 35 of a cranked shaft 36 including a spindle 37 for the support of a counter-balancing roller 38. The roller 38 is releasably secured a pin 39 passing through the extremity 35 and sleeve 34. As shown in FIG. 3 the counter-balancing roller has a substantially smaller diameter than that of the main wheel 32.

The upper plate 10 carrier at the side opposite of the wings 12 of the sliding structure 6, a yoke 40 having thus a vertical passage axis which is off-set by comparison with the axis of the frame. 1. Theyoke 40 defines an inner passage section substantially corresponding to the diameter or to. the outer cross section of the tubular elements constituting the vertical frames, poles or pillars of a supporting framework. The lower plate 11 is substantially in the shape of a fork comprising a median notch 41, having a width substantially equal 2 or greater than the passage section of the upper yoke 40. The inner end of the notch 41 semi-cylindrical or has convergent edges with a symmetry axis aligned with the axis of yoke 40. The lateral arms defining the notch in the plate 11 have holes at their end portions to position the shanks of studs 42 of right angle trangular configuration and constituting blocks or stops ('FIG. 6).

The main wheel 32 is laterally shifted with respect to the vertical symmetry plane of the frame which is counterbalanced through a removable roller 38 when the carriage must be moved for the utilization of the same.

Said move is made easier by inserting a bar 43 into a sleeve or socket on the sliding structure 6 FIGS. 7 and 8). Handling, directing and moving the frame 1 are, besides, made easier by the presence of a slotted handle 45 fixed to the upper portion of supports 16.

FIG. 7 shows an example of embodiment of a carriage of the above described type, for skidding and moving a supporting frame, for example constituted by elements 46 assembled to form crossheads and longitudinal girders 47 and pillars 48 topped by extensions 49 and bearing on the ground through telescopic legs 50 which are adjustably secured by pins 51.

FIG. 7 shows one of the embodiment steps of a travelling frame at the level of one of the pillars 48, but it is obvious that handling, skidding and moving of the complete structure are provided through the use of a number of'carriages corresponding to the number of pillars, to the number of necessary bearings for a steady support and to the load to be lifted.

The hand-pump 18 is operated after adjusting the selected distributor 19 to actuate jack position, with regard to the ground, of the frame 1 in order to position the upper yoke to straddle the pillar 48 beneath a stop constituted, for example, by a flange 52 connecting the pillar 48 and extension 49. Said operation is preferably performed by keeping the carriage on the wheel or wheels 32 and 38, according to an average slope providing first the fitting of the yoke 40 on the pillar 48 and then the setting of the plate 11 beneath a lower bearing part 53 formed by a connecting strap. This operation is, of course, performed after removal of the studs 42. The complete setting as shown in FIG. 8 is first ensured, by placing a connecting pin through the yoke 40 and behind the pillar 48, and secondly by controlling the contraction stroke of the hydraulic jack 15, in order to swing the whole carriage in the direction of arrow f (FIG. 7). When the carriage is in a position substantially parallel to the pillar 48, the studs 42 are placed on the lower plate 11, whereby one of the two perpendicular edges of each of them is placed in parallel to the corresponding edge on the flange 52 which is, besides, maintained at a stop by a block 54 supported by the plate 11. In this position the carriage is axially and angularly fixed to the pillar 48 and bears at least by the plate 11 under the flange 52.

After having similarly placed the various carriages designed for a like structure, each operator of a carriage operates the distributor 19 to then ensure through the additional hand-pump 18 the' extension stroke of the hydraulic jack 15. Since the wheel 32 bears on the ground, the extension stroke of the jack 15 causes a relative upwards move of the frame 1, with respect to the mobile structure 6 whereby the plate 1 1 tends to lift the pillar 48 and the corresponding portion of the supporting framework. During this first step, the operator can move, if necessary, counterbalancing roller 38. When the supporting framework has been lifted in a sufficient manner, the operator controls the internal sliding of the telescopic leg within the pillar 48 and then operates the pump 18 to stop extention of the jack 15. The safety of the lifting unit is then established by placing the distributor 19 on the neutral position.

As appears from the foregoing description, the embodiment of the required number of travelling carriages, according to the invention, provides the lifting of a supporting framework from the ground and then the control of the moving or the skidding of the same in view of reposition said supporting framework to a new location and to adjust the position thereof in accordance with the construction to be. made.

Though not required during those operations it is, of course, possible to remove the shaft 43 which, in some cases, can be used to modify the relative angular direction of the main wheel 32, with respect to the symmetry plane of the travelling frame. From the assembling position of FIGS. 7 and 8, said position being designated by the reference P FIG. 9, it is possible to remove pin 28 to rotate the pivot and the wheel 32 in the direction of arrow f to the maximum position P Between these two extreme positions, the wheel 32 can be locked by means of the pin 28 in the angular positions defined by the spacing of holes 26 of crown 27. FIG. 9 shows in P the preferred position of the wheel 32 which extends perpendicularly to the symmetry plane xx, thereby providing greater control possibilities on each side of said axis in the event the skidding or the moving of the structure should be in a direction at an angle with respect to the length or width of the structure.

Of course, a reverse sequence of operation enables resetting the pillar 48 at a new location. After lowering the structure through the jacks of the different carriages, the counterbalancing rollers 38 are again moved to operative position, whereby the workers in charge-of the operation can remove each carriage from the corresponding pillar 48, without any risk of rocking due to the lateral shifting of the main wheel 32.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiment shown and described in detail, for various modifications thereof can moreover be applied to it without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A carriage for moving supporting framework used in building construction, comprising a support frame, an elongate frame carried by said support frame for longitudinal sliding movement in a generally vertical direction, means extending from two longitudinally spaced points onone side of saidelongate frame for engaging a supporting framework to be moved, jack means disposed on the opposite side of said elongate frame and connected between said frame and said sup port frame for sliding said frames relative to each other, a stub shaft secured to said support frame and extending laterally therefrom, a main wheel rotatably mounted on said stub shaft, a crankedshaft removably secured to said support frame and extending laterally therefrom in the opposite direction, and counterbalancing roller rotatably mounted on said cranked shaft.

of said elongate frame with its arms spaced horizontally V to straddle an upright portion of the framework, and a plate extending laterally from the lower end portion of said elongate frame and having a notch axially aligned with said yoke, the free end portion of said plate removably supporting studs on opposite sides of said notch.

3. A carriage according to claim 2 wherein said elongate frame comprises a pair of channel members rigidly connected by cross braces with the open sides of said members in facing relation, their respective flanges being co-planar and with the edges of the co-planar flanges parallelly spaced and defining runways in the opposite sides of said frame, said support frame comprising a tubular casing surrounding said elongate frame and supporting aplurality of inwardly disposed rollers at opposite sides thereof and engaged in said runways, the roller supporting sides of said tubular casing being extended on the side opposite the yoke and notched plate on said elongate frame and constituting wings to which said jack means and said stub shaft are connected.

4. A carriage according to claim 3 wherein a hydraulic unit is mounted on the top of said elongateframe, said unit comprising a tank, hand-pump and three position distributor connected to said jack means, said jack means being double acting and having a stroke at least equal to the maximum movement between said frames.

5. A carriage according to claim 4 comprising a bearing secured between said wings with its axis parallel to the sliding movement between said frame, a swivel shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing, a pair of sleeves of polygonal section secured to the lower end of said swivel shaft with their axes parallel to each other and perpendicular to that of the shaft, said stub shaft being mounted in' one said sleeve, said cranked shaft being removably secured in the other said sleeve, and said counter-balancing roller being of a smaller diameter than said main wheel.

6. A carriage according to claim 5, comprising a segment fixed with and extending radially from said bearing, said segment having a series of spaced holes disposed in an arc concentric to the axis of said bearing, said swivel shaft having a bracket extending radially therefrom and having a hole therein for selective registration with a hole in said segment, and a pin removably insertable in selected registering holes to lock said shaft against swivelling movement.

7. A carriage according to claim 6, comprising a socket secured to the outer side of at least one of said wings, a lever bar removably mounted in said socket,

and a handle secured to the upper end of said elongate frame. 

1. A carriage for moving supporting framework used in building construction, comprising a support frame, an elongate frame carried by said support frame for longitudinal sliding movement in a generally vertical direction, means extending from two longitudinally spaced points on one side of said elongate frame for engaging a supporting framework to be moved, jack means disposed on the opposite side of said elongate frame and connected between said frame and said support frame for sliding said frames relative to each other, a stub shaft secured to said support frame and extending laterally therefrom, a main wheel rotatably mounted on said stub shaft, a cranked shaft removably secured to said support frame and extending laterally therefrom in the opposite direction, and counterbalancing roller rotatably mounted on said cranked shaft.
 2. A carriage according to claim 1 wherein said means for engaging a supporting framework comprise a yoke extending laterally from the upper end portion of said elongate frame with its arms spaced horizontally to straddle an upright portion of the framework, and a plate extending laterally from the lower end portion of said elongate frame and having a notch axially aligned with said yoke, the free end portion of said plate removably supporting studs on opposite sides of said notch.
 3. A carriage according to claim 2 wherein said elongate frame comprises a pair of channel members rigidly connected by cross braces with the open sides of said members in facing relation, their respective flanges being co-planar and with the edges of the co-planar flanges parallelly spaced and defining runways in the opposite sides of said frame, said support frame comprising a tubular casing surrounding said elongate frame and supporting a plurality of inwardly disposed rollers at opposite sides thereof and engaged in said runways, the roller supporting sides of said tubular casing being extended on the side opposite the yoke and notched plate on said elongate frame and constituting wings to which said jack means and said stub shaft are connected.
 4. A carriage according to claim 3 wherein a hydraulic unit is mounted on the top of said elongate frame, said uNit comprising a tank, hand-pump and three position distributor connected to said jack means, said jack means being double acting and having a stroke at least equal to the maximum movement between said frames.
 5. A carriage according to claim 4 comprising a bearing secured between said wings with its axis parallel to the sliding movement between said frame, a swivel shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing, a pair of sleeves of polygonal section secured to the lower end of said swivel shaft with their axes parallel to each other and perpendicular to that of the shaft, said stub shaft being mounted in one said sleeve, said cranked shaft being removably secured in the other said sleeve, and said counter-balancing roller being of a smaller diameter than said main wheel.
 6. A carriage according to claim 5, comprising a segment fixed with and extending radially from said bearing, said segment having a series of spaced holes disposed in an arc concentric to the axis of said bearing, said swivel shaft having a bracket extending radially therefrom and having a hole therein for selective registration with a hole in said segment, and a pin removably insertable in selected registering holes to lock said shaft against swivelling movement.
 7. A carriage according to claim 6, comprising a socket secured to the outer side of at least one of said wings, a lever bar removably mounted in said socket, and a handle secured to the upper end of said elongate frame. 